Tone-modulator for phonographs.



C. C. KUO. TONE MODULATOR F08 PHONOGRAPHS.

APPLICATION HLED NDWZ, I916.

Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

grmmntoz I C. C. KUO.

TONE MODULATOR FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

APPLICATION HLED NOV- 2. l9lfi.

Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

2 SHEEI$-SHEET 2.

7 to the atmosphere prior to CHENG CHIH KUO, 0F ITHACA, NEW YORK.

TONE-MODULATOR FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

Application filed November 2,1916. Serial No. 129,055.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CnENo Cam Koo, a citizen of China, residing at Ithaca, in the county of Tompkins and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tone-Modulators for Phonographs, of which the following-is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in tone modulators for phonographs.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an attachment for any form of phonograph or talking machine whereby the intensity of the tone produced thereby is easily modulated agreeable to the wishes of the operator without destroying the tone efl'ects of the instrument.

A further object of the device is to provide a ready means for regulating the quantity of sound emanating from a phonograph by shunting a desirable quantity thereof exteriorly of the instrument prior to its reception by the horn or other resonator employed thereby.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a means for contracting to a desired degree or entirely closing the sound transmitting conduit for re ulating the amount of sound entering the horn member of the instrument and venting the balance entering the horn.

It is often-found desirable in operating a phonograph to limit the amount of sound emanating therefrom without destroying the quality of the tone so that the operator may freely enjoy the use of the instrument without annoying others who are more or less distantly situated.

With these eneral objects in view and others that wil appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and then claimed.

In the drawin s forming a part of this a plication and in which like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fi re 1 is a side elevation of a phonegrapaprovided with the resent device.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the device.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken upon line IIIIII of Fig. 2, showing the damper in its closed and the position.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken upon line IV-IV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the device with the parts arranged as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3, with the port closed and the damper in its open invisible position.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the operating sleeve of the device.

ig. 8 is a perspective view of the sleeve valve for the sound port.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the damper casing.

Figs. 10 and 11 are perspective views of adjacent portions of the sound conducting tube of the phonograph adapted to be connected by the damper casing.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the invention arranged at a different point upon the instrument, the sound port being shown open.

Fig. 13 is a front elevation thereof, and,

Fig. 14 is a horizontal sectional view of the same with the damper and port parport in its open tially closed, a portion of the sound tube and the instrument being shown in top Ian. The sound modulator herein set orth mainly relies for its eiiiciene on the simultaneous regulation of the iameter of the sound tube and a vent port therein whereby the amount of sound admitted to the amplifying horn or resonator of the instrument is regulated without mufiling or impairing the tone of the audible sound which is reduced.

he device being applicable to any form of reproducing instrument, the same as herein illustrated in connection with a phonograph 10 having a rectangular cabinet 11 upon which the arm or sound tube 12 is swingin 1y mounted, a sound box 13 being carried y the free end of the said tube provided travelin upon a record disk 15 the revolvin table 16.

The soun tube 12 tapers toward its free placed upon -end and the sound box 13, the same being interrupted or severed intermediate its ends providing two sections 17 and 18 adapted for connection in axial alinement by means of the damper casing 19, the latter having an enlarged annular central portion 20 and o posits bushings 21 adapted to overlie this adjacent threaded ends of the tube portions 17 and 18 arranged threaded therein.

with a needle 14 adapted for direction An outlet port 22 is provided in one side of the tube portion 17 being substantially of the form of a quadrant of a circle and adapted for allowing the sound from the box 13 to pass therethrough.

A sleeve valve 23 and having a slightly tapered sleeve portion 24 is revolubly ournalcd upon the tube portion 17 with an enlarged inner end 25 arranged over the adjacent bushing 21 and having a base flange 26 fitting against the adjacent face 27 of the damper casin 19. A slot 28 is arranged in a sleeve 21 of a width slightly greater than that of the port 22 whereby the latter may be entirely opened upon proper adjustment of the said sleeve. An operating collar 29 is journaled upon the central portion 20 of the damper casing and is connected to the valve 23 in any convenient manner such as by means of pins 30 headed through the flan e 26 of the said valve, a knurled or roug ened exterior surface 31 being provided for the said collar 29 whereby the sleeve is readily rotated for suitably positioning the slot 28 as desired, relatively of the port 22.

The central portion 20 o ens inwardly as at 32 within the casing 19 or the accommodation of a plurality of diaphragm plates 33 arranged in the usual manner for opening and closing upon an actuation by a suitable member 37 extending through a side slot 34 in the casing 19 and operatively attached to the collar 29. It being understood that the specific form of diaphragm including the plates 33 and the manner of opening and closing the same is the wellknown structure and further details thereof are unnecessary herein, it is only essential that the diaphragm consisting of the plates 33 be regulatable within the sound tube 12 for varying the diameter thereof under the control of an exterior member, such as the collar 29 by means 0f.which the valve 23 is simultaneously actuated.

The sleeve 23 and collar 29 are so positioned upon the casing 19 that the slot 28 entirely uncovers the port 22 when the diaphragm plates 33 are entirely closed as best illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, it being understood that by turning the collar 29 the valve 33' is operated for gradually closing the port 22, moving in a first overlying tlie tapered side 36 thereof and moving until the port 22 is closed and the diaphragm plates 33 are entirely retracted within the casing portion 20, the elements then being as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

With the device arranged as illustrated in Fig. 1, the entire sound from the box 13 passes through the tube section 17 and hitting the batlle damper 38 formed by the plates 33 which are closed, the same passes laterally through the port 22. Without the provision of the port 22, the sound would be mulllcd and the tone thereof injured while by the present arrangement, the tone is unimpaired and the amount of amplitude is regulated by the quantity of sound allowed to pass through the damper 38. By turning the collar 19 for gradually closing the valve sleeve 24 over the sound port 22, the damper 38 is gradually opened until the port is completely closed, at which time the damper is entirely retracted, leaving the entire diameter of the tube for free passage of: the sound from the box 13 therethrough to the resonator or horn member, such as 39 arranged within the cabinet 11.

The damper 38 may be shifted to any degree as a ballie for the tone forcing the sound outwardly through the adjaccntly positioned port 22, an intermediate positioning of the damper 38 and valve 23 being illustrated in Fig. 14 wherein the invention is shown arranged adjacent the pivoted end or base 40 of the sound tube 12 at its point of connection with the top of the cabinet 11, it being noted that the sound port 22' therein shown is arranged in the inner side of the tube while the sleeve valve 24' is carried by the turn collar 31' for opening the port 22' simultaneously with the closing of the damper plates 33 and vice versa similar to the operation hereinbefore described. A pointer 41 is carried by the collar 31 for registering with graduations 42 upon a plate 43 carried by the to 44 of the cabinet 11, it being noted that t is collar 31 and sleeve valve 24' are adapted to turn bodily with the tube 12 as heretofore described.

' The sound waves trom the box 13 are allowed to freely pass through the lateral port in the sound tube 12 by reason of the position of the port being substantially at the position of the battle damper or diaphram by the tube so that a readily operable serviceahleattachment is provided whereby the tone of a honograph is readily modulated as found desirable, the device bein easily and inexpensively manufactured a though highly efficient in its operation.

While the form of the invention herein shown and described is what is believed to be the preferred embodiment thereof. it is nevertheless to be understood that various forms, modifications nd arrangements of the parts may be ma .e without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

.1. A tone modulator attachment for sound tubes having a side outlet port, including a diameter changing damper for said tube, and a rotatable sleeve valve for said port surrounding said tube and operatively connected tosaid damper whereby the port and diameter of said tube are oppositely varied 2, A sound modulator comprising in combination, a sound tube having a lateral outlet port, a diameter changing dam er arranged Within said tube adjacent said port, operating means for said damper, and a rotatable sleeve valve for controlling the port surrounding the sound tube and attached to said operating means whereby the port is closed simultaneously with the opening of said damper.

3. A. sound modulator for phonographs comprising a sound tube havin 1 a side outlet port, a damper casing carried by said tube, a diameter changing damper within said casing and arranged in closing relation with respect to the tube, operating means for said damper, and a sleeve valve for said port carried by said operating means and arranged overlying said port when the damper is opened, said port being automatically opened when the damper is closed.

4. A tone modulator comprising in combination, a sound tube for a phone aph having a substantially quadrant shape side outlet port, a sleeve valve for said port having a slot of greater Width than that of the port, a diameter changing damper within said tube 0 erativel connected to said valve and operable simu taneously therewith in the opposite direction thereto.

5. A tone modulator comprising in combination, a sound tube carried by an instruinent casin and having a side outlet port, a diameter changing damper Within said tube adjacentthe cabinet and the port, an operating sleeve for said damper adjacent the cabinet, and a sleeve valve for said por'. carried by said sleeve and surrounding the tube whereby said port and the diameter of the tube may be oppositely varied simultaneously.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHENG 'CHIH KUO. 

